Antigone Vs Creon Character Analysis

Antigone, a tragedy written by Sophocles, portrays the views and ideas of two different sides. On one side, there is Antigone, a realist, who puts her family above all else. On the other side is the King of Thebes, Creon, an idealist, who feels obliged to put his people and nation first in a way which he sees necessary. Both characters believe their side is the correct view. One will do all he can to convince the people his words and actions are correct, while the other will act in silence and try to honor her family the only way she can.

Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus, the former king of Thebes. Her dad died and her two brothers were next in line to the throne. They went of to war, on opposing sides, and both died from the sword of the other. Eteocles, who fought for Thebes, was to have an honorable, soldiers funeral. Polyneices did not fight for Thebes, but instead against them, therefor Creon declared his body was to be left where it was for the animals to eat. Creon stated this in his Ship of State to the people, “‘Eteocles, who died as a man should die, fighting for his country, is to be buried

After leaving his nephews body for the animals, and sentencing his niece, and also sons fiancé, to death, the people are beginning to question his reasoning. Creon believes that by doing everything by the book, and not taking other key factors into play, he is being a great leader for his people. However, he is one of the only ones who sees it this way. His son, Antigone, his wife, and many others tell him he is foolish for making these laws. Creon will pay the price when Antigone dies. As a result his son, Haimon kills himself; therefore, his wife also will kill herself, for living without her son would be terrible. In the end, Creon sees his own foolishness, and admits to his faults. “‘Haimon my son, so young, so young to die, I was the fool, not you; and you died for me… This truth is hard to bear’” (Sophocles